How to Mulch a Hill

Mulch is often used in landscaping projects because it provides many benefits. It helps prevent weeds from growing, it prevents moisture from evaporating, which reduces the amount of watering you need to do, it prevents soil erosion, and it helps protect plants from cold damage, since it acts as a blanket on the soil. If you have plants on a hillside, using mulch to prevent erosion is especially important, because the dirt is more prone to erosion on a hillside.

Tape measure
Calculator
Pitchfork

Instructions

- 1
  Calculate the amount of mulch you need in cubic yards. Multiply the length by the width of the area to be covered. Multiply the result, in inches, by the depth of the mulch layer, for example, 2 or 3 inches. Convert the result into feet by dividing it by 12, then divide that number by 27 to get the number of cubic yards of mulch you need.
- 2
  Check the depth of any mulch that is already on the hillside. The mulch layer should be between 2 and 4 inches deep, so if there's already an inch of mulch on the ground, you want to add three inches at most.
- 3
  Spread the mulch onto the hillside with a pitchfork or with your bare hands. Spread the mulch evenly onto the ground in a layer 2 to 4 inches deep. If there are bushes or trees in the hill, leave a 12-inch radius around the trunk free of mulch. If you place too much mulch around the trunk, you can suffocate the root system, as moisture, air and nutrients cannot reach the roots.

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